Bulgaria’s Anti-Trust Body Accuses CEZ Unit of Abuse of Dominant Market Position

Bulgaria's anti-trust regulator has accused the local electricity distribution arm of Czech power group CEZ of abusing its dominant market position.

CEZ Distribution Bulgaria had refused access to the grid of a small hydropower station, Gara Eliseina, without sufficient grounds, according to the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC).

“The overall behavoiur of the electricity distribution company, in view of the toughess of the requirements put forward and the way, in which the process of connection to the grid had been conducted, represent an unfounded refusal to grant access to the power distribution network […] which curbs electricity production to the detriment of consumers,” the CPC said in a statement on Monday.

CEZ Distribution Bulgaria operates the sole electricity distribution network in Vratsa Region, in the northwestern part of the country, where the power station is located.

The company has 30 days to object in writing to the findings of the competition regulator.

A CEZ Bulgaria spokeswoman has told Reuters the company was convinced it had done nothing wrong and would object to the findings of the commission.

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